Nonmutated

Nonmutated is an adjective used in genetics and molecular biology to describe genetic material, cells, organisms, or phenotypes that have not acquired mutations relative to a specified reference. The term is often used interchangeably with wild-type, especially when the reference represents the normal, non-mutated state. Nonmutated does not imply lack of any variation, but rather absence of sequence alterations in the reference region or gene being considered.

In research contexts, nonmutated samples serve as controls to compare against mutated samples. In assays such as sequencing, a nonmutated allele is one that matches the reference genome or lacks known deleterious variants in the gene of interest. In microbiology, a nonmutated strain lacks mutation conferring a desired trait or antibiotic resistance.

In medicine and oncology, mutation status is used to guide therapy. Some tumors or conditions are described as nonmutated (wild-type) for a gene, influencing prognosis and treatment choices. However, absence of detected mutations does not guarantee normal function; sequence coverage, tumor heterogeneity, regulatory mutations, large structural variants or epigenetic changes may alter function without a classic point mutation.

See also wild-type, mutation, genetic variant, genotype.